Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy was developed by Dr. Albert Ellis in the 1950's. Educators are beginning to rethink how they address behaviour in schools. Slowly we are appreciating that if students are to learn how to better manage themselves emotionally and behaviourally more successfully then REBT has a lot to offer through RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOUR EDUCATION

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Friday, 17 July 2015

“Schools provide a convenient location to deliver emotional
health prevention programs for children. Whilst there are a number of school
based programs, few have been scientifically evaluated to determine what effect
they have on children’s emotional health,” said lead author Professor Paul
Stallard, of the University of Bath’s Department for Health.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to
greatly reduce anxiety levels in schoolchildren ages nine to 10 years old,
according to new research from Oxford University. Researchers believe that this
therapy would benefit all children, regardless of their anxiety levels."
http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/07/20/cbt-in-elementary-school-curriculum-lowers-childrens-anxiety-levels/72685.html

The above extract from a PsychCentral article of July last
year reinforces the work of schools in well being promotion based on CBT. Many
schools in South Australia are applying Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)
principles in daily teaching practise through The Rational Emotive Behaviour
Education Program.

Para Hills School P-7 leads the way in Social and Emotional
learning and promotion. All children are taught that they are philosophers,
thinkers and that they have constructed their own 'thinking rules' that
are 'çonnected' to their actions and feelings. They learn how
their irrational thinking habits are unhelpful to them and rational ones are
more useful. This way they can learn to control potentially self (and other)
defeating actions and emotions. Do life's events and other people make them
angry or do they make their own anger when engaging their
irrational thinking rules? Albert Ellis, creator of REBT said that we
by and large construct our own anger, depression and anxiety so we can
theoretically learn how to deconstruct them and replace them with better habits
of believing.

Para Hills School P-7 leading the way in REBT/CBT based mental health promotion

The REBE in Schools Program helps students develop personal
capabilities that assist them with their academic and social learning. Students
who have healthy concerns rather than unhealthy anxieties; healthy
sadness and annoyance over depression and anger will succeed even in the face
of challenge.

Schools are the place to put these ideas in practice.
Teachers are working hard at the 'çhalk face' to empower children with the insights
and understandings that will help them at school and beyond. Para Hills School
P-7 has been doing this methodically and comprehensively across all year levels
on a daily basis building a culture of well being and success.

Friday, 3 July 2015

Schools are showing keen interest in the good work of teachers at Para Hills School P-7. The Rational Emotive Behaviour Education in Schools Program continues to have positive outcomes for students' social and emotional well being. There is growing evidence also that students are 'switching on to' learning as they develop and build their personal capabilities to believe in themselves and to hang in there when things seem too hard. As the term draws to an end much respect goes out to all educators who work tirelessly in often challenging situations to help students fulfil their potential.

As Albert Ellis said many years ago he believed the future of psychotherapy was in the school system and this message continues to resonate strongly today and is not lost on educators far and wide who help students understand how their constructed philosophies are linked to how they feel and behave.Ellis said on many occasions that we construct how we feel because of the habits of thinking we have developed. This is in evidence daily in schools where young children will articulate how 'bad' or 'dumb' they are. These ideas are reflected in various ways emotionally and behaviourally. They don't just feel annoyed or upset but rather angry and/or extremely sad. They may withdraw and refuse to do their set tasks or lash out in anger.The job of the Rational Emotive Behaviour Educator is to help students identify, challenge and change irrational self defeating habits of thinking. This will in turn help them to make better choices and to manage their emotions more effectively.